ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3197

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 15, 2021

      The Assembly Judiciary Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 3197.

      This bill changes the eligibility criteria for a deferred retirement for a member of the Judicial Retirement System (JRS) who has been appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, to the position of county prosecutor.

      The bill clarifies the relevant statutory law, section 1 of P.L.2019, c.287 (C.43:6A-11.1), to provide the deferred retirement to a JRS member who is at least 65 years of age, has the necessary judicial service credit for a full judicial retirement, and has served for 25 years as a judge for any court in New Jersey.

      If such a person attains the age of 70 years while still serving as county prosecutor, this bill provides that the aforementioned relevant statutory law would override the JRS mandatory retirement age of 70 set forth in section 7 of P.L.1973, c.140 (C.43:6A-7) and in the New Jersey Administrative Code, and would allow for the deferment of the mandatory retirement for JRS to the first day of the month following the termination of the member's service as county prosecutor.